(Sa Asian Youth and Junior Championship)PH LIFTERS HUMAKOT NG 15 GOLDS

NAGWAGI si Vanessa Sarno ng Bohol ng 3 gold medals upang tampukan ang kampanya ng Pilipinas sa Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships sa Uzbekistan Sports Complex sa Tashkent City noong Biyernes ng gabi.

Pinaniniwalaang susunod sa yapak ni Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, nakalikom ang 17-anyos na si Sarno ng 230kg. (100kg. sa snatch at 130kg. sa clean and jerk) upang kunin ang Junior women’s 71kg. category title.

Pumangalawa si Anggi Restu ng Indonesia na may 212kg. (92-120) habang pumangatlo si Kim Hye-min ng Korea na may 211kg. (93-118).

Ang three-gold performance ni Sarno ay nagbigay sa Pilipinas ng kabuuang 15 gold medals, ang pinakamatikas na pagtatapos ng bansa sa torneo.

Ang iba pang medal winners ay sina Angeline Colonia (2 golds at 1 silver, Youth women’s 40kg. category), Rose Jean Ramos (3 golds, Youth women’s 45kg. category; 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, Junior division), Rosalinda Faustino (3 golds, Youth women’s 49kg. category), Rosegie Ramos (3 golds, Junior women’s 49kg. category) at Prince Keil delos Santos (2 bronzes, Youth men’s 49kg. category).

Si Sarno, ng Barangay Bool sa Tagbilaran City, ay nagtala ng bagong records sa snatch (104kg.), clean and jerk (135kg.), at total (239kg.) upang kunin ang gold medal sa Vietnam Southeast Asian Games sa Hanoi noong nakaraang Mayo.

Ang 5-foot-4 na si Sarno ay naging kampeon din sa 2021 Asian Championships, na idinaos din sa Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Nagwagi siya ng silver medal sa snatch (101kg.) ngunit hinablot ang gold medal sa clean and jerk (128kg.) at total (229kg.).

Naniniwala si Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella na malayo ang mararating ni Sarno.

“She’s ready for Paris 2024 but she will have to work harder and I’ll make sure of that. Yes, this is so far the best in Asian youth and juniors. In the past, even one gold by Sarno in North Korea made me happy. Now with 15, what more can we ask? Fifteen times our anthem was played. To all the coaches under Tony Agustin, our Board, parents, Philippine Sports Commission, and MVP Sports Foundation, salamat (thank you). But most of all, to God be the glory. Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, here we come. Para sa bayan ito (This is for the country),” sabi ni Puentevella, na iniluklok sa International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame noong nakaraang buwan.

JEAN MALANUM (PNA)